Colorado State to fire basketball coach Larry Eustachy

Matt L. Stephens

Posted:
02/08/2018 11:34:03 AM MST

Larry Eustachy's tenure as Colorado State's men's basketball coach is over, according to a source with knowledge of the university's decision.

CSU intends to terminate the coach's contract based on Eustachy violating the zero tolerance policy he previously received regarding his abusive behavior toward players and staff, according to the source, who has direct knowledge of the school's current investigation.

"We can't give a guy a zero-tolerance policy in 2014, have the conduct continue in 2018 and then just give him another warning," the source said.

Eustachy, who was put on a paid leave of absence last Saturday, has been the subject of an investigation by the CSU athletic department designed to assess the culture of the program. Athletic director Joe Parker, deputy director Steve Cottingham and compliance director Shalini Shanker interviewed players and staff members regarding Eustachy's behavior over the past week. According to multiple team sources who requested anonymity due to fear of retaliation, Eustachy would single out players during practices and in the locker room at halftime of and after games and repeatedly scream profanities at them.

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The only delay in completing the investigation, the source said, was setting up a meeting with Eustachy and his representatives, which has now been moved to next week.

"Our collections of data to inform the assessment is nearly complete, pending our conversation with Coach Eustachy," Parker said in a statement Thursday evening. "Coach Eustachy and his representatives are unable to meet with us until early next week. The University intends to resolve this as soon as possible."

Firing Eustachy with cause would save CSU more than $3 million dollars it would owe him in a buyout if it were to terminate his contract without cause. It is expected Eustachy's attorney would attempt to negotiate a settlement.

Eustachy has been on paid administrative leave since Saturday following a Denver Post report that the coach told his players and staff that CSU president Tony Frank informed him his job was safe, despite the ongoing investigation. Frank's office said the president did not - and would not - say that to anyone. Associate head coach Steve Barnes is serving as interim head coach.

CSU has not said what precipitated the latest investigation.

A 2013-14 investigation of Eustachy led by former Rams' athletic director Jack Graham determined the coach emotionally and verbally abused players. His behavior included throwing chairs and unopened soda cans, punting a basketball and punching a white board while in the presence of his team. In that investigation, Eustachy admitted that he "crossed the line" and "went way over the line" when it came to creating a culture of fear and intimidation.

Graham recommended then CSU terminate Eustachy's contract with cause, but Frank opted not to accept the recommendation. He instead directed Eustachy to complete six anger management courses. Eustachy was also given a zero-tolerance policy in regards to his behavior and vulgar language directed at individuals and was informed that any breach of the policy would result in termination with cause.

In 2003, Eustachy lost his job at Iowa State after photos of him drinking at parties and kissing co-eds on the campuses of Missouri and Kansas State following games were published by The Des Moines Register. As Iowa State's head coach from 1998-2003, Eustachy went 101-59, won two Big 12 championships, reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament and was named the 2000 AP and U.S. Basketball Writers Association's national coach of the year.

Eustachy, whose contract is set to expire after the 2020-21 season, is 121-74 in almost six full seasons with the Rams. He led CSU to the NCAA Tournament in his first season (2012-13), as well as two NIT appearances (2014-15, 2016-17) and has twice set the program's single-season win record (26 in 2012-13; 27 in 2014-15). CSU is 10-16 overall this season and 3-10 in conference play, including seven consecutive losses.

Eustachy's salary this year is $985,012. His contract gives him a 2 percent raise every season, which scheduled him to earn more than $1 million in 2018-19. Only two people in CSU history have earned a seven-figure salary, football coach Mike Bobo ($1.85 million) and former football coach Jim McElwain. ($1.5 million)

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